An interesting extract which suggests Gandhiji's views on Foreign Imports :
"Q . What is your opinion about the importation of foreign goods other than cloth into India ? Are there any foreign commodities which you would like to see immediately under prohibition ? What do you think should be the nature of India's foreign trade in the future ?
A. I am more or less indifferent with regard to trade in foreign goods other than cloth. I have never been an advocate of prohibition of all things foreign because they are foreign . My economic creed is a complete taboo in respect of all foreign commodities , whose importation is likely to prove harmful to our indigenous interests .This means that we may not in any circumstance import a commodity that can be adequately supplied from our own country . For instance I would regard it a sin to import Australian wheat on the score of it's better quality but I would not have the slightest hesitation in importing oatmeal from Scotland , if an absolute neccesity for it is made out , because we do not grow oats in India . In other words I would not countenance the boycott of a single foreign article out of ill will or a feeling of hatred. Or to take up a reverse case , India produces sufficient quantity of leather , it is my duty therefore to wear shoes made out of Indian leather only , even if it is comparatively dearer and of an inferior quality in preference to cheaper and superior quality of foreign leather shoes . Similarly I would condemn the introduction of foreign molasses or sugar if enough of it is produced in India for our needs . It will be thus clear from the above that it is hardly possible for me to give an exhaustive catalogue of foreign articles whose importation in India ought to be prohibited . I have simply indicated the general principle by which we can be guided in all such cases. And this principle will hold good in future too as long as the conditions of production in our country remain as they are to-day"
Young India , 15th November ,1928 ; p.381 : Under the title " The Students Interrogatories"
Oatmeal from Scotland !!!.....there is no differentiation even between primary and secondary goods......Have we got Gandhi wrong by reading "Hind Swaraj" too literally without considering what he actually and practically meant ? More on that later.
2 comments:
that is a great
He also emphasised the voluntary aspect of Swadeshi: “It is believed by some that Swadeshi could be affected by an embargo on foreign imports after the attainment of Swaraj. But that Swadeshi will be no Swadeshi. It will be a virtue practised under compulsion. True Swadeshi is the invulnerable bulwark of the nation and it can only be said to be accomplished if it is practised as a national duty.”
more importantly: In 1931 he warned : “But even Swadeshi like any other good thing can be ridden to death if it is made a fetish. That is a danger that must be guarded against. To reject foreign manufactures merely because they are foreign and to go on wasting national time and money to promote manufactures in one’s country for which it is not suited, would be criminal folly and a negation of the Swadeshi spirit. A true votary of Swadeshi will never harbour ill-will towards the foreigner; he will not be moved by antagonism towards anybody on earth. Swadeshism is not a cult of hatred. It is a doctrine of self-less service that has its roots in the purest ahimsa, that is, love.”
http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article969.html
i don't find either of these two statements liberal:
"For instance I would regard it a sin to import Australian wheat on the score of it's better quality"
"It is my duty therefore to wear shoes made out of Indian leather only , even if it is comparatively dearer and of an inferior quality in preference to cheaper and superior quality of foreign leather shoes."
basically both statements deny the right of choice to consumers. maybe chandra has a point about the voluntary aspect of swadeshi, but this whole concept of "national duty" has the seeds of compulsion in it. and i don't understand the statement in the quote he has given:"to go on wasting national time and money to promote manufactures in one’s country for which it is not suited". now no businessman will waste money on unviable businesses, so what was Gandhi saying, actually?
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